What happened in November 1983?
The top front-page story of each day in November 1983, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Nov 1🌋 Volcano Erupts in Japan – Miyake Island residents experienced steam clouds from a volcanic eruption after rain hit hot lava, creating a dramatic scene.
- Nov 2🔥 Navy Carrier Blaze – Six Navy men died and 35 were injured in a fire aboard the aircraft carrier Ranger in the Arabian Sea.
- Nov 3🚀 Space Shuttle Launch – NASA announced the next flight of the space shuttle Columbia is set for Nov. 28, despite delays affecting scientific experiments.
- Nov 4🌍 Grenada Interim Government – Grenada's Governor General announced the formation of a nonpolitical interim government to be appointed early next week.
- Nov 5🏇 Jet Run Wins World Cup – Jet Run, ridden by Michael Matz, triumphs in the World Cup class, aiming for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
- Nov 6🫀 First Heart-Lung Transplant – Surgeons at Presbyterian-University Hospital in Pittsburgh perform the first heart-lung transplant on a man with cystic fibrosis.
- Nov 7🌞 World's Largest Solar Plant – The first phase of the world's largest solar energy plant is set to start generating electricity in California this month.
- Nov 8🌌 New Galaxy Discovered – An Australian astronomer announced the discovery of a new galaxy, described as almost part of Earth's backyard, expanding our understanding of the universe.
- Nov 9🌍 Earthquake in Belgium – An earthquake struck eastern Belgium, killing 2 people and injuring 26, causing significant damage to buildings.
- Nov 10🌍 Grenadian Interim Government – Nine Grenadians appointed to an interim government by Governor General Sir Paul Scoon to prepare for elections.
- Nov 11🌊 Panama Canal Toll Rates – The Panama Canal will maintain and improve operations without increasing toll rates in 1984, as announced by the operating agency.
- Nov 12🔬 Gasohol Sales Surge – Interest in gasohol, a blend of gasoline and ethanol, peaked in the U.S. as a way to reduce foreign oil dependence.
- Nov 13📷 Recreating Russian Jewry – YIVO Institute plans to collect and catalogue photographs depicting Russian-Jewish life and culture.
- Nov 14📜 Torah Marks Rebirth – A Torah was presented to the Emanuel Synagogue, symbolizing hope after it was damaged by arson, uniting the community in remembrance.
- Nov 15🌍 Big Soviet Grain Harvest – U.S. Agriculture Department predicts Soviet grain harvest of 200 million metric tons for 1983, largest since 1978.
- Nov 16🖼️ Record Art Auction – A Manet and a Cezanne sold for nearly $8 million at Christie's, setting records for both artists at auction.
- Nov 17🏗️ New Saudi Airport Opened – King Fahd dedicated the $3.5 billion King Khalid International Airport today, enhancing Saudi Arabia's infrastructure.
- Nov 18👑 Queen Visits India – Queen Elizabeth II arrives in India for a 10-day state visit, greeted by large crowds and a Hindu revival rally.
- Nov 19🌍 Argentina Claims Nuclear Capacity – Argentina announced it developed technology to enrich uranium, enabling the production of nuclear explosives.
- Nov 20🌍 U.S. Condemns El Salvador – The U.S. criticized right-wing death squads in El Salvador, marking a shift in policy towards acknowledging human rights abuses.
- Nov 21🌍 Ocean Expedition Ends – The Glomar Challenger returns with significant geological findings, enhancing our understanding of Earth's history.
- Nov 22🌋 Volcanism on Venus – New images suggest widespread volcanic activity on Venus, indicating it may be geologically active like Earth and Io.
- Nov 23🦖 New Dinosaur Fossils – Fossils of a previously unknown dinosaur, possibly an ancestor of the tyrannosaurus rex, were discovered in Texas, reported the National Geographic Society.
- Nov 24🛳️ Ferry Sinks in Typhoon – Over 200 people are missing after a ferry carrying 388 passengers sank off Mindanao Island in the Philippines during a typhoon.
- Nov 25🕊️ Israelis Welcome Freed Soldiers – Six Israeli soldiers, held for over 14 months by the PLO, returned home to a passionate welcome from families and supporters.
- Nov 26🌍 Chinese Leader Speaks – Hu Yaobang, head of China's Communist Party, addresses Japan's Parliament, promoting foreign investment for economic modernization.
- Nov 27🚀 Shuttle Launch Countdown – The countdown began for launching the most expensive and complex science research facility ever put into space.
- Nov 28🚀 Shuttle's Mission Launch – American and European space officials announced the Spacelab mission aboard the shuttle Columbia, heralding new cooperation in space ventures.
- Nov 29🚀 Columbia Launches Spacelab – The space shuttle Columbia successfully launched a European research laboratory into orbit for nine days of scientific tests.
- Nov 30🔬 Shuttle Scientists Test – Scientists aboard the Columbia shuttle conducted elaborate experiments to study the physiological effects of weightlessness on the human body.
Happy Birthday! 1983 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1983 in real headlines. See the 1983 book →
Born in November? Pick the day
Every birthday in November has its own On This Day in Headlines book: